JustBeginning
Beginner's guide

So you're getting into typewriter collecting

Few hobbies connect you to history as directly as a vintage typewriter that clacks back. Most portables cost less than a restaurant meal, ribbons are still manufactured, and every machine has a story baked into its keys. Here's what to buy first, which brands reward beginners, and what not to overpay for.

By Colin B. · Published June 7, 2026 · Last reviewed June 7, 2026
person typing on a vintage typewriter at a desk

Photo by Denise Jans on Unsplash

The 60-second version

If you only buy 3 things to start:

  1. Smith Corona Sterling Portable Typewriter — Smith Corona Sterling: a forgiving first vintage portable with parts still available and a solid repair community.
  2. Universal Typewriter Ribbon Black (1/2 Inch Spool) — Universal black ribbon fits most vintage portables and keeps impressions crisp for about $8 a spool.
  3. Tri-Flow Superior Lubricant with Teflon — The lubricant typewriter mechanics reach for first, works on seized keys and sticky carriage mechanisms.
Budget total
$65
Typical total
$175
A working vintage portable runs $40-120 at thrift stores or online. Add $20 for ribbons and $15 for a cleaning brush kit and you're fully operational.

We earn commission on qualifying Amazon purchases — see our affiliate disclosure. Price tiers and budget totals shown above are editorial estimates; actual Amazon prices vary.

At a glance

Our top pick in each category

The fastest path through this guide — each best-starter pick by category. Scroll for the budget and upgrade alternatives.

CategoryTop pickPriceWhere to buy
TypewritersSmith CoronaSmith Corona Sterling Portable Typewriter$$ See on Amazon →
RibbonsUniversalUniversal Typewriter Ribbon Black (1/2 Inch Spool)$ See on Amazon →
Cleaning SuppliesFalconFalcon Dust-Off Compressed Gas Duster$ See on Amazon →
Maintenance ToolsTri-FlowTri-Flow Superior Lubricant with Teflon$ See on Amazon →
Reference BooksCountryman PressThe Typewriter Revolution by Richard Polt$ See on Amazon →
Before you buy anything

A few things worth knowing first

Buy working, not cheap. A $20 machine that needs restoration will cost you $80 and two weekends before it types reliably. A $80 machine that's already cleaned and working is the better deal every time.

Stick to portables for your first machine. Desktop standards (Underwood No. 5, Royal KMM) are beautiful, but they're heavy, harder to ship, and need a dedicated desk. Portables give you the same experience in a package you can actually live with.

The three most forgiving brands for beginners are Smith Corona, Royal, and Olympia. Parts are documented, repair guides exist, and they're common enough that you won't overpay. Save the Swiss and Italian machines (Hermes, Olivetti) for when you know exactly what you want.

The gear

What you actually need

Vintage typewriter with black keys and green plant

Photo by Evgeniy Bezkorovayniy on Unsplash

Typewriters

The first machine sets the tone for the whole hobby. For most beginners that means a portable from the 1950s-1970s: compact enough to use regularly, common enough that repair guides exist, and priced reasonably enough that you won't feel burned if you decide to upgrade. Royal and Smith Corona are the entry-level workhorses. Olympia is the step up. Hermes is the endgame that collectors talk about for years before buying.

Typewriters — what's the difference?

A few common shapes, each making a different trade.

Portable

Travel-sized machines built for daily use. The starting point for most collectors.

Weight
5-10 lbs
Era
1940s-1970s
Storage
Built-in case

Best for Most beginners, apartment typists, and anyone building a first collection

Tradeoff Lighter key travel than desktop machines; some collectors find the feel less satisfying

Standard (Desktop)

Full-size office machines with heavier mechanisms and louder, more authoritative keys.

Weight
15-30 lbs
Era
1920s-1960s
Storage
Dedicated desk required

Best for Collectors drawn to pre-war American design; writers who prefer maximum key feedback

Tradeoff Heavy and loud; requires a permanent typing spot and patience with vintage sourcing

Best starter
Smith Corona

Smith Corona Sterling Portable Typewriter

$$

The Smith Corona Sterling is one of the most recommended first machines: the key action is light and consistent, the mechanism is simple enough to clean yourself, and working examples are common. Made through the 1960s and early 1970s, it's old enough to be a genuine collectible but late enough that parts and ribbons aren't a problem.

What we like

  • Light, consistent key action that beginners adapt to quickly
  • Well-documented online with repair guides for every failure mode
  • Common enough to find in good condition without overpaying

What to know

  • Carriage return springs weaken over decades; confirm function before buying
  • Plastic body on later models (post-1968) feels less substantial than earlier metal
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Royal

Royal Epoch Portable Manual Typewriter

$

The Royal Epoch is new, not vintage, but that's the point. If you're not sure the hobby will stick, spending $65 on a modern portable beats spending $100 on a vintage machine that might need work. It types reliably, ribbons are easy to find, and it teaches you everything about how a typewriter operates before you invest in something collectible.

What we like

  • New condition means no restoration surprises right out of the box
  • Ribbons and parts are current production and easy to find

What to know

  • No collectible value whatsoever; this is a gateway tool, not a collection piece
  • Plastic construction lacks the tactile weight of a real vintage machine
See on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
Olympia

Olympia SM9 Manual Typewriter

$$$

Collectors use 'West German engineering' as shorthand for a reason: the Olympia SM9 has a glass-smooth key action that Royal and Smith Corona simply cannot match. Produced 1961-1980, it's the machine serious collectors recommend to anyone ready to step up. Expect to pay $120-200 for a clean example. The investment is worth it once you know you're staying in this hobby.

What we like

  • Silky key action that outclasses nearly every other portable typewriter
  • Extremely well-documented; service manuals are available online

What to know

  • Harder to find in excellent condition; skip any example the seller calls 'needs work'
  • Heavier than comparable portables at around 10 lbs
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Olivetti

Olivetti Lettera 32 Vintage Manual Typewriter

$$$$

The Olivetti Lettera 32 is one of the most iconic portable typewriters ever designed: compact, beautifully made, and still fully functional decades later. It's the machine Cormac McCarthy typed on for over 40 years. The design is distinctive enough to display, precise enough to type on daily. Save it for your second machine, once you're sure this hobby has you.

What we like

  • Cormac McCarthy's typewriter of choice; a genuine design icon
  • Lightweight at 6 lbs, the most portable of the serious collectibles

What to know

  • Platens harden faster than most; budget for replating on older examples
  • Italian mechanics harder to source parts for than American-made models
See on Amazon →

Ribbons

Ribbons are the one truly recurring cost in typewriter collecting, and the quality difference between good and bad ribbons is immediately visible on the page. Most vintage portables use a standard 1/2-inch spool. Black-only is the practical choice for most typists; black-red is the traditional option for those who want the full experience of a mid-century office machine. Keep a spare on hand; running dry mid-project is frustrating.

Best starter
Universal

Universal Typewriter Ribbon Black (1/2 Inch Spool)

$

Ames Supply is the ribbon source that typewriter communities consistently recommend. Their universal 1/2-inch spool fits the vast majority of vintage portables, the ink quality is noticeably better than off-brand options, and impressions stay crisp through the full ribbon life. Buy a two-pack so you always have a spare ready.

What we like

  • Fits most vintage portables without any modification or adapters
  • Ink density stays consistent through the full ribbon without fading early

What to know

  • Won't fit older pre-war machines that use wider or specialty spools
  • Ships from a specialty supplier; stock up so you're not waiting on a reorder
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
FJA Products

FJA Products Universal Typewriter Ribbon Black Red

$

The traditional office ribbon for any machine with a two-color selector switch. Black for body text, red for headings, dates, or emphasis. More of an experience choice than a practical one, but it makes using a vintage machine feel genuinely mid-century. Worth having one around.

What we like

  • Unlocks the two-color selector on machines that support it
  • Red type for dates and headings looks exactly as vintage as you'd hope

What to know

  • Requires a working color selector; many vintage machines have a seized selector
  • Red portion gets used faster than black; you'll reorder more often
See on Amazon →

Cleaning Supplies

Vintage typewriters accumulate decades of dust, dried ink, and old oil that gums up mechanisms. The single most important cleaning task is the type slugs (the small metal stamps that make each letter), which fill with dried ink and produce blurry impressions. Compressed air handles loose debris; a soft brush and denatured alcohol or type cleaner handles the slugs. This is not optional maintenance: a dirty typewriter types badly regardless of how good the mechanism underneath is.

Best starter
Falcon

Falcon Dust-Off Compressed Gas Duster

$

The first step in cleaning any vintage typewriter is blowing out the debris, and Falcon Dust-Off is what everyone reaches for. Use it on the keyboard, the carriage mechanism, and the interior before any wet cleaning. Keeps the moisture away from places it shouldn't go. Keep one next to your machines permanently.

What we like

  • Safe on all vintage typewriter components including rubber platens
  • Reaches into key mechanisms and carriage rails that brushes can't

What to know

  • Cans run out faster than you expect; buy two at a time
  • Doesn't remove dried ink from type slugs; you still need a brush and solvent for that
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
BSIE

BSIE Typewriter Maintenance Kit

$

This kit covers the standard first-round of typewriter maintenance: a dust brush for the mechanism, typebar cleaner solution for type slugs, typewriter oil for pivot points, polishing cream for chrome, and fibre cloths. Buying it as a kit costs less than sourcing each item separately, and the typebar cleaner is the hardest piece to find on its own.

What we like

  • Covers the complete cleaning routine in one purchase at fair value
  • Typebar cleaner specifically formulated for removing dried ink from type slugs

What to know

  • Oil is adequate for a first clean; Tri-Flow works better for seized mechanisms
  • Individual tool quality is basic; hobbyists upgrade piece by piece over time
See on Amazon →

Maintenance Tools

Beyond cleaning, every typewriter collector eventually needs to lubricate a sticky mechanism or tighten a loose component. The right lubricant matters enormously: WD-40 is not the answer (it dries sticky and attracts dust). Typewriter-specific oil applied sparingly to pivot points and rails keeps mechanisms running for decades. A precision screwdriver set handles the small screws on vintage portables without stripping them.

Best starter
Tri-Flow

Tri-Flow Superior Lubricant with Teflon

$

Typewriter mechanics recommend Tri-Flow by name because it penetrates seized mechanisms, lubricates pivot points, and doesn't dry into the sticky residue that gums up vintage machines over time. Apply it sparingly with a toothpick or fine-tipped applicator, not from the nozzle. One small bottle lasts years of careful use across a whole collection.

What we like

  • Penetrates seized pivot points without damaging vintage rubber or plastic
  • Teflon formula stays slick without accumulating dust the way WD-40 does

What to know

  • Nozzle makes spot application tricky; use a toothpick to control placement
  • A little goes a very long way; easy to over-apply on your first machine
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
iFixit

iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit

$$

Vintage typewriters use small Phillips and flathead screws that strip instantly with the wrong driver. The iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit has the right small-shaft drivers for the screws on virtually every portable typewriter ever made, plus the spudgers and picks that help you navigate tight spaces without scratching chrome or paint. The tweezers alone are worth the purchase for handling small springs.

What we like

  • Small shaft drivers fit vintage typewriter screws without slipping or stripping
  • Tweezers and spudgers handle springs and small parts in tight mechanisms

What to know

  • More toolkit than most casual collectors need; consider a basic set first
  • Case is large for a toolbox; the drivers are the only pieces you'll use regularly
See on Amazon →

Reference Books

The typewriter collecting community has produced genuinely excellent printed resources, from collector identification guides to hands-on repair manuals. One good reference book teaches you more about identifying models, assessing condition, and understanding what makes a machine collectible than months of forum browsing. If you're serious about the hobby, a physical reference lives on the desk next to the collection.

Best starter
Countryman Press

The Typewriter Revolution by Richard Polt

$

Richard Polt is the most respected voice in typewriter collecting, and this book covers everything a new collector needs: how to evaluate machines, which brands and eras matter, how to type well, and why the hobby resonates in a digital age. It's equal parts practical guide and love letter to mechanical writing. Buy this before you buy your second machine.

What we like

  • Covers machine identification, condition assessment, and collecting strategy
  • Written by the leading voice in the collecting community; the authoritative reference

What to know

  • Published 2015, so some sourcing advice (eBay prices, specific sellers) is dated
  • Leans more toward the culture of collecting than deep mechanical repair
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Sams

The Typewriter Repair Manual

$

When a mechanism binds or a linkage breaks, a service manual is the difference between a quick fix and a machine that sits in a closet. This manual covers adjustment specs, disassembly sequences, and parts diagrams for manual and electric portables. More useful than YouTube for anything requiring precise measurements or spring tensions.

What we like

  • Original factory specifications for adjustments you can't find anywhere else
  • Parts diagrams make disassembly logical instead of guesswork

What to know

  • Must match your specific brand and model; generic manuals miss machine-specific quirks
  • Scan quality varies; some reprints are barely legible on the diagrams
See on Amazon →
Going deeper

Your first month of typewriter collecting

Most new collectors buy the wrong first machine and spend their first month fixing it instead of using it. Here's what to buy, how to assess condition, and what the hobby actually feels like once a machine is working and ribboned.

Read the guide →
Save your money

What you don't need yet

Beginners get pressured to buy a lot of stuff that doesn't help them play better. Here's what we'd skip on day one.

  • A platen replacement service — Hard rubber platens do dry out eventually, but a new machine doesn't need replating. Evaluate after a year of use.
  • A full repair course — YouTube channels like Phoenix Typewriter walk you through 90% of common fixes for free. Take a course only if you want to take machines apart professionally.
  • A rare collectible (Hermes 3000, Olivetti Lettera 32, pre-war Underwood) — Save the trophy machines until you know what you love. Your first pick should be a machine you can break and learn on.
  • A display case or museum-style shelving — Start with a single machine. Display cases come after you have something worth displaying.
  • Special typing paper — Any 20-lb bond paper works fine for learning. Specialty paper matters for presentation typing, not practice.
First week

Your first seven days

A short, real plan to get from gear-on-doorstep to actually playing.

  1. Buy a working vintage portable, not a restoration project. Confirm it types before money changes hands. · Buy
  2. Stock two ribbons. You'll want a spare when the first one runs dry mid-session. · Buy
  3. Clean the type slugs. Blow out debris with compressed air, then brush each slug with a type cleaner or denatured alcohol on a cotton swab. Your first page will look dramatically better. · Action
  4. Type a full page. Doesn't matter what it says. Learning the feel of the key action and the carriage return is the whole point of the first session. · Action
  5. Look up your machine on the Typewriter Database (TWDB). You'll find the production year, color variants, and often the serial number range for your specific machine. · Learn
  6. Watch one Phoenix Typewriter video on basic cleaning. It will teach you more about your machine's mechanism than any manual. · Learn
FAQ

Common questions

How much should I spend on my first typewriter?

Between $50 and $120 for a working vintage portable in good cosmetic condition. Anything under $40 is probably a restoration project in disguise. Anything over $150 is a premium you haven't yet earned the context to evaluate. The sweet spot is a clean Smith Corona, Royal, or Olympia from the 1950s-1970s from a seller who has confirmed it types.

Where should I actually buy vintage typewriters?

eBay and Etsy have the widest selection, but local estate sales, thrift stores, and antique markets are where the best prices live. Amazon Marketplace has occasional listings too. The advantage of buying locally is that you can test it before paying. The rule: never buy a typewriter that the seller hasn't confirmed is in working order.

Are ribbons still being made for vintage typewriters?

Yes. The standard 1/2-inch spool fits the vast majority of vintage portables made between 1940 and 1980, and several suppliers still manufacture them (Ames Supply, Swintec, others). Exotic sizes for pre-war or specialist machines are harder to find but still available through specialty suppliers and eBay.

How do I know if a vintage typewriter is in good condition?

Ask the seller to type a test line showing all keys. Look for: consistent impression (not light on some letters, heavy on others), smooth carriage travel, a functioning carriage return, and margin stops that hold. Cosmetic flaws (scratches, faded decals) don't matter. Mechanical problems (sticking keys, uneven impression, seized carriage) do.

What's the most collectible typewriter for a beginner?

The Hermes 3000 and Olympia SM9 are the machines collectors talk about most at the entry-to-mid level. But collectibility is something you discover, not something you plan. Start with a machine you'll actually use. Typing on your machine is how you learn what matters to you in a collectible.

Can I use a vintage typewriter for actual daily writing?

Absolutely, and that's the best way to know if the hobby is for you. A clean, well-ribboned vintage portable is fully functional as a writing tool. Many collectors use their machines daily for letters, journaling, and drafts. The hobby is more satisfying when the machines work, not when they just sit on a shelf.

Going further

Where to next

Related hobbies

Browse by category

Authoritative sources

  • Typewriter Database (TWDB) — The essential community resource. Enter your serial number and get the exact production year, country, and color for most major vintage models. Bookmark this before your machine arrives.
  • The Typewriter Revolution (Richard Polt's blog) — Polt is the most respected writer in the hobby. His blog archives cover machine reviews, collecting philosophy, and the cultural moment typewriters are in.
  • Phoenix Typewriter (YouTube) — The best starting point for hands-on video repair guides. Duane covers cleaning, lubrication, and common mechanical fixes in clear, beginner-friendly detail.
  • r/typewriters — The most active English-language community for typewriter collecting. Use the search before posting: most beginner questions have detailed archived answers.
  • Typewriter Talk (Forum) — The dedicated collector forum. Slower pace than Reddit but deeper expertise. Good for specific model questions and repair discussions that require back-and-forth.
  • ETCetera (Journal of the ITAM) — The International Typewriter Appreciation Month journal. Niche, but this is where collectors publish detailed research on specific models and production histories.
a man sitting at a desk with an old typewriter

Photo by Christian on Unsplash

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